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How do I download all Google Docs

in a folder as PDF?
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Asked 9 years, 2 months ago

Modified 1 month ago

Viewed 44k times

13

I have a Google Drive filled with Docs, Slides, and Sheets. The new Google
Drive interface no longer supports choosing the file format for bulk
downloads, and just gives me a bunch of useless Microsoft Office formatted
files.

How do I download everything as PDF, other than manually opening and

downloading each of hundreds of files?

I cannot use Google Takeout, because my Google Apps administrator has

disabled it for some unknown reason.
 google-drive
 google-workspace
 google-docs
 export
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edited Nov 10, 2015 at 10:06

SightSpirit

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asked Nov 10, 2015 at 2:29

Andrew Sun

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 I have Google Drive installed on my computer, which means that when I look at
the files contained there, I see, for example, a file called "project.gslides". It has
that file type because I created the project on the web using google slides, not
powerpoint. So wouldn't the solution to your underlying problem be to install
Google Drive on your computer?
– aparente001
CommentedNov 15, 2015 at 4:11
 2
@aparente001 Those files are just links. They do not contain any data.
– Andrew Sun
CommentedNov 15, 2015 at 12:26
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5 Answers
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 Highest score (default)
Date modified (newest first) Date created
(oldest first)

The easiest way to download an entire folder is with the Google Takeout tool.
You can download just the folder you need, and you can chose which format
you would like (in this case PDF).

https://takeout.google.com/settings/takeout
In your original question you indicated that your domain admin has this
feature DISABLED, but it should be easy them to activate the tool so
that you can use it. It's really useful for people who are leaving your
organization a well!
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edited Dec 22, 2016 at 3:37

answered Dec 14, 2016 at 7:18

Mark Hall

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 Yes, but the admin can enable it. I'm a google apps admin and you can enable
these tools in about 3 minutes. Why try to work around the takeout tool when it
can be easily activated - it's the best way to accomplish this.
– Mark Hall
CommentedDec 22, 2016 at 3:39
 1
Worked like a charm!
– Kohányi Róbert
CommentedMar 19, 2018 at 10:31
 This option is preferable in my opinion, since it doesn't require trusting anyone
other than Google (who, regrettably, may or may not be trustworthy, but by the
time you need this, you've already ceded that ground).
– Christi
CommentedMar 16, 2024 at 10:10
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I found that the drive Google Drive client can download a folder structure that
contains Google Docs exported as PDF (and some other formats as well).
drive pull -export pdf /path/to/folder
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edited Nov 24, 2015 at 22:11

answered Nov 24, 2015 at 21:58

Andrew Sun

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2

I just spent some time searching through Google Drive apps for one that
would convert Docs editor formats into PDF, but I came up empty-handed.
(That said, Drive apps are always a good place to start looking if you need a
feature that Drive itself does not include or, in this case, no longer includes.)

I had no idea that Google had altered its whole file-export model to be so
restrictive. It turns out (as I learned from the Drive Help Center) that even
trying to download a single, say, Google Doc from the Drive file browser
screen will only ever yield an MS Office file.
It appears that the only way to download a Docs editor file—Docs, Sheets,
Slides, etc.—as a PDF now is to open up each file and go to the "Download
as" sub-menu.
That, and Google Takeout, which would also let you download as PDF in bulk,
but you mentioned you don't currently have access to that on your Google
Apps domain. Perhaps you could bring it up with your Apps administrator,
especially if not having access to Takeout would hinder your productivity?
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edited Nov 10, 2015 at 6:39

answered Nov 10, 2015 at 5:54

SightSpirit

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0
Check out PDF Mergy on Google Apps.
Install it, then in your list of files in Google Drive "select all," right click, open
with PDF Mergy.

Works like a charm, yet does not appear in some more common searches in
the app store.
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edited May 11, 2017 at 15:25

ale

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answered Feb 8, 2017 at 18:49

Kelly P

11
1
You could at least link to it.
– ale
CommentedFeb 8, 2017 at 18:54
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The Google Apps script introduced in this video worked really well for me.
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answered Oct 23, 2022 at 22:02

pkastner

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 1
While this link may answer the question, it is better to include the essential parts
of the answer here and provide the link for reference. Link-only answers can
become invalid if the linked page changes. - From Review
– Blindspots♦
CommentedOct 24, 2022 at 5:30
 Your answer could be improved with additional supporting information.
Please edit to add further details, such as citations or documentation, so that
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